Display device



1970 v. REED ET AL 3,490,600

' DISPLAY .DEVICE Filed May 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States Patent 3,490,600 DISPLAY DEVICE Vernon Reed, Fort Wayne, Richard Woods, Markle, and Richard C. Kadel, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors to Peter Eckrich & Sons, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Filed May 31, 1967, Ser. No. 642,447 Int. Cl. A47f 7/00 U.S. Cl. 211-59 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display unit including a pair of spaced brackets to be mounted on a vertical support, at least two arms pivotally mounted for rotation about spaced axes on each of the brackets, means for securing each arm against pivotal movement relative to the bracket on which it is mounted, two elongated display supports each extending between one of the arms on one of the brackets and the corresponding arm on the other of the brackets, means pivotally connecting each of the display supports to the arms between which it extends and means for fixing position of rotatable adjustment of each display support relative to the arms on which it is mounted.

Background of the invention In recent years, merchants have recognized the desirability of displaying products to be sold on a type of display unit generically characterized as a perforated board display unit. Typically, such display units include one or more members having a plurality of apertures therein which are adapted to receive hooks which, in turn, support the packaged product.

In most cases, the perforated board display units have been an extremely efiicient device for displaying merchandise to be sold. However, in some instances, as when the size of the package to be suspended from the hooks of the perforated board display unit is changed as when the nature of the product displayed is changed, the job of relocating the various hooks to accommodate the changed product is relatively tedious and time consuming in that each hook must be relocated.

Summary of the invention It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved perforated board display unit.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a perforated board display unit wherein the distance between adjacent rows of hooks may be easily changed to accommodate new products of difiering sizes to be displayed thereon.

Another object is the provision of the perforated board display unit such as that set forth in the preceding paragraph having at least two members each including a plurality of apertures for mounting a row of product supporting hooks, means mounting the members for relative movement to adjust the space between rows of hooks retained in the apertures, and means for securing the members in any of a plurality of spacially adjusted positions.

A further object is the provision of a display unit comprising a pair of spaced brackets adapted to be mounted on a generally vertical support, at least two arms pivotally mounted for rotation about spaced axes on each of the brackets, means for securing the arms against pivotal movement relative to the brackets on which they are supported, at least two elongated display supports, each extending between respective ones of said arms on said pair of brackets, means pivotally connecting each of the display supports to the arms between which it extends, and

means for securing the display supports against rotation relative to the arms.

A still further object is the provision of a display unit such as that set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the display supports are tubes and the last-named securing means includes wedge means within the ends of the tubes for frictionally binding the tubes to the arms, the wedge means further including an outer cylindrical surface which serves as the pivotal mounting for the tubes.

Yet another object is the provision of a display unit such as that set forth above including means whereby the spacing between the arms on each bracket and the angular position of each arm relative to the bracket may be selectively and independently varied.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description .of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display unit made according to the invention in the environment of one intended use;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately along the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the display unit apart from the environmental surroundings;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of a portion of a display unit made according to the invention.

Detailed description An exemplary embodiment of a display unit made according to the invention is shown in the environment of one intended use in FIG. 1. Specifically, the display unit, generally designated 10, is supported in a refrigerated display case generally designated 12 although it could be mounted apart from a display case as on a wall or a suitable pedestal.

The exemplary embodiment of the display unit 10 includes adapter brackets generally designated 12 which are mounted on vertical supports 14 within the display case 12. Each bracket 12 supports an upper arm generally designated 16 and a lower arm generally designated 18, although if desired additional arms could be provided.

Each of the arms 16 and 18 is pivotally mounted to the respective adapter brackets 12 in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter and means are provided for maintaining each arm 16, 18 in a desired angular relation with respect to the adapter brackets 12.

Extending between corresponding arms on the two adapter brackets 12 are elongated display supports 20. The display supports are connected by means of a pivotal connection to the arms between which they extend and means are provided for securing the display supports 20 against rotation relative to the arms 16, 18 by which they are supported.

Each display support 20 includes a plurality of apertures 22 which are adapted to receive product supporting hooks 24. The arrangement is such that a suflicient number of the apertures 22 are provided so that each display support 20 may support a plurality of the books 24 at desired spaced locations.

Each display hook 24, in turn, may support a plurality of card packages 26. Typically, each card package 26 is provided with an aperture 28 near one edge thereof through which the hook 24 may project.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the display supports 20 are formed of tubes having a circular cross section and are mounted on the ends of the respective arms 16, 18 remote from the adapter bracket 12.

Each adapter bracket 12 includes a flange 30 having a downwardly opening book 32 at the upper and thereof and an upwardly opening hook 34 at the lower end thereof. Returning to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the vertical supports 14 are provided with a plurality of slots 36 in which the hooks 32 and 34 may be received. Typically, the vertical support 14 is in the form of a channel-like member.

The purpose of providing both an upwardly opening hook and a downwardly opening hook on the adapter bracket 12 is to permit the latter to be supported either in the position shown in FIG. 2 or in a totally inverted position. In this respect, it will be noted that as illustrated, the upper arms 16 of the display unit are of a somewhat greater length than the lowermost arms 18. In the event it is desired to have the shortest arms uppermost rather than as shown, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire unit to make the change, but rather, the unit 10' may be bodily lifted from a display case so as to disengage the hooks 32 from the slots 36, rotated through 180 and then replaced in the display case 12 with the hooks 34 now providing the support for the adapter brackets 12.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the flange 30 of each adapter bracket 12 is secured to one leg of a U-shaped channel member 38 which forms a majority of each adapter bracket'lZ. The arrangement is such that the flange 30- is generally parallel to the bight of the U-shaped member 38. As will be apparent, the non-planar configuration of the adapter bracket 12 provides a significantly stronger construction than would be the case if the brackets were planar.

Returning to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the adapter bracket 12 is provided with a plurality of horizontal rows 40 of apertures 42. Each row 40 includes three of the apertures 42 with the endmost apertures 42 in each row 40 Having their centers spaced a distance equal to the distance between adjacent ones of the rows 40. The significance of this relationship will become apparent hereinafter.

The rightmost aperture 42 in each row as viewed in FIG. 2 serves to define a pivotal axis for each of the arms I 1 6, 18. Specifically, each arm 16, 18 is provided with an aperture 44 (see FIG. 4) which is adapted to be aligned the rightmost aperture 42 of one of the rows to receive a bolt 46 having a nut 48. The bolt 46 provides apivotal connection while the nut 48 holds the bolt 46 in place.

In order to provide angular adjustment of each arm 16, 18 relative to the adapter bracket 12, arcuately arranged slot means, generally designated 50, are provided at the end of each arm 16, 18 opposite the point of support of the display supports 20. In the exemplary embodiment, the arcuate slot means 50 are formed by a plurality of apertures 52 arranged arcuately about the aperture 44 to have a radius equal to the distance between the center of the leftmost aperture 42 in a row and the center Of "th6 rightmost aperture 42 in the row 40. Of course, if desired, the apertures 52 may be replaced by a single arcuate slot having the same radius.

A bolt 54 is projected through the leftmost aperture 42 in a row 40 and through a selected one of the apertures 52 man arm 16, 18 to hold the arm 16, 18 in a desired angular relationship with respect to the adapter bracket 12. By changing the aperture 52 through which the bolt 54 projects, the angular attitude of each arm 16, 18 'may be varied. Additionally, there is provided a nut 56 for retaining the bolt 54.

In order to rigidify the arms 16, 18, a pair of flanges 58 are disposed on opposite sides of each arm 1'6, 18 and are'transverse to the bodies thereof.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the manner in which the display supports 20 are pivotally mounted on the arms 16, 18 together with the means for securing the same in a desired position of rotative adjustment will be described. As will have been apparent from the foregoing description of the arms 16, 18, the two are identical with the exception of their length, As a result, the means by which the display supports 20 are pivotally mounted to each arm 16, 18 and the construction of the means for precluding movement of each display support relative to the arm on which it is mounted are identically made and only one will be described. As viewed in FIG. 4, the end of the arm 16 remote from the point of connection of the latter to the adapter bracket 12 is provided with a pair of apertures 60 which have their centers spaced a distance equal to the spacing betwen the centers of the apertures 42 at the ends of each row 40. A pair of bolts 62 are adapted to be passed through respective ones of the apertures 60 to be received in threaded bores '64 in a wedge plug 66.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the wedge plug 66 includes a pair of diagonally extending surfaces '68 which slope outwardly from the bores 64 in the direction going away from the point of attachment of the plug 66 to the arm 1'6. A pair of segments 70 include complementary, diagonal surfaces 72 which, as viewed in FIG. 3, slope inwardly toward the bore 64 in the direction going toward the arm 18.

The wedge plug 66 and the segments 70 are constructed with cylindrical outer surfaces 74 which will be in contact with an inner surface 76 of a corresponding one of the display supports 20. As a result, when the bolts 62 are backed off with the bores 64 in the wedge plug 66, an open end of the display support 20 may be slipped over the assemblage including the wedge plug 66 and the two segments 74 such that the latter three elements are within the confines of the tube from which the display support 20 is formed. By threading the bolt 62 deeply into the bores 64 in the wedge plug 66, it will be seen that the latter will be drawn toward the arm on which it is mounted (to the right as seen in FIG. 3) thereby forcing the segments 70 outwardly to frictionally bind against the inner surface 76 of the display support 20. As a result, the latter cannot rotate relative to the segment 70, the plug "66 and thus the arm to which the plug 66 is secured.

However, when the bolts 62 are backed off sufficiently, the tube 20 may be freely rotated about the cylindrical surfaces 74 of the segments 70 and wedge plug 66 and thus, about an axis parallel to its elongated dimension.

As a result of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the distance between adjacent ones of the display supports 20 may be selectively adjusted by changing the angular relation of each arm 16, 18 with respect to the adapter brackets 12. Alternatively, the spacing of the pivotal axis of the arms 16 and the pivotal axis of the arms 18 may be changed by relocating the bolts 46 and 54 in a different row 40 of the apertures 42.

When angular adjustment of the arms 16, 18 is made, in order to maintain the body of the hooks 24 in a substantially horizontal plane or, for that matter, any desired non-horizontal plane, the bolts 62 may be backed off and the display supports 20 rotated until the apertures 22 therein are located so as to dispose the hooks 24 in the desired plane.

In some instances, it may be desirable to omit certain of the arms while retaining the associated One of the display supports 20. For example, for some reason it may be desirable to omit the arms 18. It will be recalled that spacing between the apertures 60 is identical to the spacing between the endmost apertures 42 in each row 40 as well as spacing between corresponding apertures 42 in adjacent rows 40. Thus, the arms 18 may be removed and the bolts 62 may be used to secure the wedge plug 66 directly to the adapter bracket 12. Because of the just mentioned spacing arrangement, it will be appreciated that the wedge plug 66 may be oriented either vertically or horizontally on the adapter brackets 12 by locating the bolts 62 and corresponding ones of the apertures 42 in adjacent rows 40 or by locating the bolts 62, in the endmost apertures 42 of a single row 40, respectively.

The segments 70 are then disposed adjacent the wedge plug 66 in the manner described previously and the end of the display support 20 is fitted thereover. Upon tightening of the bolts 62, the display support 20 will be secured directly to the adapter brackets 12. Of course, the attitude of the hooks 24 supported by the display support 20 may be varied in the same manner as if the display support 20 were mounted on the arms 18.

It will be recognized that the foregoing arrangement also provides a great deal of flexibility in the positioning of the display support 20. For example, when the wedge plug 66 is oriented vertically, the resulting location of the display support 20 will be approximately midway between the two positions it would occupy if the wedge plug 66 were oriented horizontally with the bolts 62 passing through the apertures 42 in either of the rows 40 whose apertures 42 are used 'for vertically orienting the wedge plug 66.

Having described a specific embodiment of our invention for exemplification purposes, we do not wish to be limited to the specific details set forth, but rather to have the invention construed broadly in accordance with the following claims.

We claim:

1. A display unit comprising: a pair of spaced brackets adapted to be mounted on a generally vertical support; at least two arms pivotally mounted for rotation about spaced first axes on each of said brackets; first securing means associated with said arms for securing the arms against pivotal movement relative to the bracket on which they are mounted in any of a plurality of angular positions; at least two elongated display supports each extending between one of said arms on one of said brackets and the corresponding arm on the other of said brackets, each of said display supports including a plurality of mounting means for a product support; means pivotally connecting each of said display supports to the arms between which it extends for rotation about second axes substantially parallel to the elongated dimension of the respective display support; and second securing means for securing each said display support against rotation relative to the arms on which it is mounted in any of a plurality of angular positions.

2. The display unit of claim 1 wherein said display supports are tubes and said second securing means includes wedge means within the ends of said tubes adjustable to frictionally bind said tubes to the arms supporting the same.

3. The display unit of claim 2 wherein said tubes are circular in cross section, said wedge means including a first element having a first diagonal surface and a second element having a second diagonal surface in contact with said first diagonal surface; said pivotal connecting means including a cylindrical surface formed on said first and second elements and in contact with the inner surface of a respective one of said tubes, and means connecting one of said elements to a respective one of said arms.

4. The display unit of claim 1 wherein said plurality of mounting means for a product support comprise a plurality of apertures in each of said display supports adapted to mount a product supporting hook.

5. The display unit of claim 1 wherein said first securing means comprises arcuately arranged slot means in one of said bracket and said arm, an aperture in the other of said bracket and said arm, and tightening means impaled through said slot means and said aperture.

6. The display unit of claim 5 wherein said arcuately arranged slot means comprises a plurality of arcuately arranged apertures.

7. The display unit of claim 5 wherein said aperture is on said bracket and a plurality of like apertures are provided on said bracket; and means for adjusting the distance between said first axes whereby the spacing between the arms on each bracket together with the angular position of each arm relative to the respective bracket may be varied.

8. The display unit of claim 1 wherein each of said brackets is vertically oriented and includes at least one downwardly open hook adapted to be received in a slot of a vertically oriented channel.

9. The display unit of claim 8 wherein each of said brackets further includes at least one upwardly open hook.

10. A perforated board type of display unit comprising: a plurality of elongated display supports each having a plurality of mounting apertures therein; a plurality of display hooks mounted in at least some of the apertures of each said display support; means mounting each of said display supports for movement relative to each other whereby the relative positions of each display support relative to another display support may be adjusted; means for locking each display support in a desired position of adjustment; said mounting means comprising a pair of spaced brackets; at least one pair of arms, each arm adapted to be associated with one of said brackets and mounting connecting means for supporting one of said display supports; each said bracket including means for alternatively supporting an arm and for supporting said connecting means whereby said display supports can be alternatively disposed on said arms and disposed directly on said brackets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,458 4/ 1907 Bagley 248243 X 2,031,718 2/1936 Kress 21187 2,597,115 5/1952 Lundstrum 211 2,987,195 6/ 1961 Smith 211- ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner ABRAHAM FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

